William Ira Tillotson

William Ira Tillotson was born on May 6, 1876 in Elsie, Clinton County, Michigan.
(His name also appears occasionally as William L. Tillotson.)
William was the son of
William Thomas Tillotson and Betsy Wooll.

William Ira Tillotson.

William Ira Tillotson.

William Ira Tillotson married twice. He first
married Harriet M. Wilcox on October 1, 1902.
Harriet was born April 9, 1874 in Duplain, Clinton County, Michigan.
She was the daughter of James Wilcox. Some sources give
her mother's name as Lucy Cooper; the Clinton County death records
say Sarah Francks; and the wedding notice below says her
mother's first name began with an "E." Sarah Francks is correct.

The wedding notice for William Ira Tillotson and Harriet M. Wilcox
reads as follows:

A quiet but pretty wedding took place at the home of Mrs. E. Wilcox,
Wednesday, October 1, when her daughter Harriet, was married to
William L. Tillotson, Rev. A. H. Stevens performing the ceremony.
There were about thirty invited guests.

The bride wore a gown of light green Liberty satin trimmed with
cream applique with the yoke and lower portions of Marehal Neil
roses.

The parlor was tastefully decorated with smilax and carnations
and other flowers were plentiful.

The presents were very pretty including silver, table linen
and china. The teachers of the primary department of the
Sunday school, of which the bride was superintendent, gave her
a beautiful set of china chocolate cups and saucers, and the
Epworth League, of which she was for many years an active
worker, presented her with a gold lined spoon for cream.
After the ceremony dainty refreshments were served.

Those present from out of town were C. A. Wilcos (sic), of
Portland, A. B. Wilcos (sic) of Owosso, brother of the bride,
and a sister, Ella Wilcox of St. Johns, Levi Maynard of
Kingston, brother-in-law of the groom, were also there.
Mr. and Mrs. Tillotson left on the evening train for Portland.
They will be at home on East Oak Street after October 15.

Harriet M. Wilcox.

William and Harriet had no children. Harriet died of shock
during an operation on January 15, 1911 in Elsie, Clinton County, Michigan.
She is buried there.

On February 13, 1913, William married Myrtle L. Maynard.
She was born August 30, 1883 in Elsie, Clinton County, Michigan.
Myrtle was the daughter of David Albert Maynard and Sarah Ann Carter,
and the sister of Levi Arthur Maynard who married William's sister
Hattie Corlista Tillotson.

Myrtle L. Maynard.

Myrtle L. Maynard.

William and Myrtle had two children:

Leonard C. Tillotson was born March 10, 1915 in Elsie,
Clinton County, Michigan. He was graduated from Elsie High School
in 1933. He married Margarite Louise Phillips at the Bannister
Methodist Church in Bannister, Michigan on June 5, 1937.
Margarite was born April 26, 1916. Leonard and Margarite had two children.
Margarite died July 15, 1991.
She is buried in the Riverside Cemetery in
Elsie, Clinton County, Illinois.
Leonard was a member of the
Order of the Cedar in the Foresters of Lebanon-Midland Chapter #169 R.A.;
Royal Arch-Alma chapter #123;
Grand Council of High Priests since 1952-State of Michigan;
Tall Cedars of Lebanon-North American District #17;
Grand Lodge Free & Accepted Masons of Michigan-Elsie #238;
Knights Templar-Commandery-Ithaca #40;
High Twelve Club-Alma #662;
Grand Council Royal Select Master; and the
Eastern Stars-Elsie #69.
Leonard was also a charter member of the Elsie Historical Society
and a charter member of the Elsie Glee Club.
Leonard was a member of the Elsie United Methodist Church
in Elsie, Michigan. In 1987 Leonard and Margarite celebrated
the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding. In that year Leonard
retired from maintenance with the Shiawassee County Medical
Care Facility in Corunna, Michigan.
After Margarite's death Leonard moved to the Michigan Masonic Home
in Alma, Michigan where he spent the last decade of his life.
Leonard died there August 8, 2000.
Funeral services were held in the
Elsie United Methodist Church on August 12, 2000 with
the Reverend Merlin Pratt presiding. Leonard is buried in the
Riverside Cemetery with Margarite. Leonard was the source for
much of my information about the Tillotsons and allied families
in Clinton County, Michigan.

Leonard C. Tillotson.

Betty E. Tillotson was stillborn in 1923.

The family portrait at the top of this page shows, left to right:

David Albert Maynard

Sarah Ann Carter Maynard

Myrtle L. Maynard Tillotson

William Ira Tillotson

Betsy Wooll Tillotson

David and Sarah Ann Maynard were the parents of Myrtle.
Myrtle was William's second wife. Betsy was William's mother.

William Ira Tillotson started out as a farmer. His worsening
asthma finally forced him to change occupations. He became a mail
carrier, delivering rural mail until his death. He served as secretary
of the local letter carriers association for several years.
William was also a Mason. At the time of his death
he was secretary of the Blue Lodge. He had held all chairs in the
Blue Lodge. William was also Secretary and Treasurer of the Elsie
school board for a time, succeeding Harvey Brainard.

William Ira Tillotson died September 12, 1939 in Elsie, Clinton County,
Michigan. Myrtle L. Maynard Tillotson outlived William by almost
forty years. She died April 27, 1978 in Elsie. Both are
buried in the Elsie Riverside Cemetery.

Photos courtesy Mary Porubsky and Leonard C. Tillotson.

Mrs. Elizabeth Hess of the Elsie Historical Society
provided a copy of the wedding notice for William Ira Tillotson and
Harriet M. Wilcox.